Leicester City: Nigel Pearson ready for promotion 'scrap'

Under-pressure Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson insists he will battle through their recent miserable run.

The Foxes looked set to challenge for automatic promotion as they climbed to second in the Championship in January.

But they have not won in five games and are only in the play-off positions on goal difference.

Pearson remained defiant when asked if he felt he was in danger of losing his job. "I don't know, but I'm a scrapper," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

Analysis

"Leicester have struggled for goals, which is surprising given the predatory frontmen they possess.

"Chris Wood was in ruthless form - scoring seven goals in his first five games - but he's now gone five without a goal. David Nugent's 14 this term have been key but even he has drawn eight blanks of late.

"Uncharacteristic goals conceded from set-pieces and dwindling numbers mean they're clinging on to their play-off place with some big games coming up.

A poor first-half performance at Pride Park saw them trail 2-0 and, although they improved after the interval, they were unable to salvage a draw.

Speculation has been rife that the club's ambitious Thai owners, who have previously backed their boss, could be ready to replace Pearson just 17 months into his second stint as manager at the King Power Stadium.

Pearson said he understood that the team's recent results had left people "concerned and disappointed".

He continued: "I fully understand that, but my job is to lead and bring us through what is a difficult spell.

"It's a situation I have experienced before and I have always worked through it. I am never going to hide. I will take the responsibility for it, but I also expect other people to take their fair share of responsibility too.

"Hopefully, the fans will stick with us. I can understand the frustration at our form. It's not as if it's a situation we cannot salvage, but we are putting our goals for the season at risk with a poor run of form."

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Foxes not playing well - Pearson

Pearson, whose squad flew to Portugal on Monday for a week's warm-weather training during the international break, was angry with his side's efforts against the Rams and has demanded a response.

"It was an awful game and we showed a lack of quality," Pearson admitted.

"We conceded poor goals. We have to rectify this very quickly because we are putting what has been, for long periods, a positive season at risk by under-performing.

"I wouldn't disagree that they worked harder than us in the first half and that's not right.

"We have worked so hard to get into a good position, but at the moment we are not playing well enough.

"We have to graft through it and make sure that the players are aware of their obligations to the football club."